Understanding The 2023 Florida Building Code (FBC) - New Fan Efficiency Requirements
The 2023 Florida Building Code (FBC) -New Fan Efficiency Requirements
Significant changes are coming to the commercial fan industry through the adoption of a new metric, the Fan Energy Index (FEI), into energy codes and standards. Both ASHRAE 90.1-2019, IECC-21 and the 2023 Florida Building Code include FEI requirements.
2023 Florida Building Code (FBC) - New Fan Efficiency Requirements
The 2023 FBC, Eighth Edition went into effect Dec 31, 2023. The 2023 FBC has been updated to include new requirements around Fan Efficiency, as seen below in Chapter 4 Commercial Energy Efficiency, C403.2.12.3, where each fan and fan array shall have an FEI value greater than or equal to 1.0, aligned with ASHRAE 90.1-2019.
Below is Chapter 4 [CE] Commercial Energy Efficiency Page (C403.2.12.3 Fan efficiency)
Recommendations for FEI Compliance and Fan Schedules
Engineers are eager to understand FEI, how to comply with code requirements, and how FEI can be used as a powerful tool to select the best fan system for their application. Below are recommendations to design around these new requirements:
The Greenheck e-CAPS selection tool is the best way to integrate FEI into your fan selections for your projects and ensure that your fan schedules to comply with code requirements.
Figure 1: Greenheck e-CAPS (FEI) fan selection.
https://ecaps.greenheck.com/
Fan Energy Index (FEI) - What is it?
FEI represents a fan’s electrical input power relative to a baseline fan at a given duty point. For example, a fan with a 1.10 FEI uses approximately 10% less power than the baseline model. Selecting fans below 1.00 FEI, such as one rated at 0.85 FEI, will fail to satisfy minimum energy code requirements. FEI provides more accurate information on a fan system’s energy consumption.
The amount of power required to operate a baseline fan at a duty point is calculated based on data submitted by AMCA manufacturers and represents the typical energy consumption at a duty point. For each duty point, there is only one baseline fan electrical input power value.
While traditional metrics such as BHP take into account bearing loss and aerodynamic loss, the actual power required to operate a fan system includes other sources of power loss. FEI is a true “wire-to-air” metric that rates the overall energy consumption of a complete fan system.
Including this factor in design selection allows engineers to confidently select the most energy efficient fan for each application.
Once a fan selection has been made, include notes in your schedule to ensure that Fans shall meet or exceed scheduled FEI values and be licensed to bear the AMCA CRP Seal for FEI.
Our Stan Weaver team can provide you with the tools and guidance to:
Understanding FEI
The fundamentals of FEI and discover what makes it a unique metric for measuring fan energy performance. Understand its relevance and benefits over our traditional metrics and why it’s becoming the standard in evaluating energy efficiency.
FEI & Fan System Selection
How to use FEI as a powerful engineering tool to optimize fan system selections. Practical examples demonstrate the effective use of FEI in enhancing fan system design and performance.FEI Code Adoption, Compliance, and Recommendations
How FEI is being integrated into energy codes and standards. Insights are provided into the legislative landscape mandating FEI and practical strategies are offered to ensure compliance.
